Box Score NATCHITOCHES—The Northwestern State men's basketball team played right with one of the Southland Conference's best teams but saw a late lead slip away in an 82-77 overtime loss to Lamar on Saturday at Prather Coliseum.

NSU (9-20, 7-9) couldn't contain LU (16-13, 10-6) in overtime, as the Cardinals scored on five of their final six possessions and outscored the Demons 12-7 in the extra session to earn the victory.

The Cardinals received six of his 16 points in the extra session from Chris Pryor. On multiple occasions, the Demons cut it to three in overtime, but LU made its final six attempts from the free throw line, including four from Pryor, to salt away the contest.

"We scored enough to win the game," first-year head coach Rick Cabrera said. "I don't think offense was the issue in the game with the exception of a few costly turnovers. But in the second half and overtime, we lacked defensive discipline, just understanding the scouting report and letting shooters get open. That is one thing I am disappointed in my team about because they have been better at that.

"It will take me some time to get over this one because this is a game we needed to win."

To put into overtime, LU's B.B. Knight made a triple from the left wing with six seconds left with the Cardinals down three to tie the game and send it into overtime. Braelon Bush's last-ditch shot from just across half court was on line, but a hair short and NSU went into its first overtime game of the season.

That basket capped an impressive second half for Knight, scoring 14 of his 19 in the final 20 minutes of regulation.

His 3-pointer finished a back-and-forth final few minutes, as Justin Wilson converted a three-point play on a layup in the paint with 43 seconds left off one of Chase Forte's team-high six assists to put the Demons on top 69-67. A stop and Wilson free throw set the stage for the final seconds of regulation.

"Lamar is a veteran team," Cabrera said. "They kept their composure even when being down. They made shots when needed. That is what good teams do. In order to win on the road, you need to do those things."

NSU weathered an eight and half minute field goal drought in the second half that saw Lamar cut an eight-point deficit down to just two.

Despite the long drought, the Cardinals couldn't overtake the Demons until the final minute.

The field goal drought was stopped by Bush, who scored 18 points for NSU, the second-most on the team.

Bush tallied nine early second half points and 11 total points in the half, helping NSU jump out to a 48-40 advantage before Lamar struck back.

In the second half, the Cardinals shot 51.9 percent, including four triples.

In the first half, Wilson set the tone for the game, scoring the first six points for the Demons to help the home team off to a fast start.

Wilson poured in a game-high 24 points, including 10 in that first half.

"Justin has been one of the better bigs in the league since conference play began," Cabrera said. "He has been so consistent for us."

His other four points in the half came during an 11-1 burst from NSU that pushed the Demons from a one-point deficit to a nine-point lead, their largest of the game.

Behind Wilson's 10 first half points, NSU shot 50 percent in the half to build a 37-33 advantage at halftime.
NSU scored 54 of its 77 points in the paint in the game.

While the Demons forced 18 turnovers and committed 16, the Cardinals turned NSU's turnovers into 21 points and NSU turned LU's turnovers into 12 points.

The Cardinals also dominated the glass, hauling down 15 offensive boards and 44 total, compared to NSU's 33.

Adam Hamilton (15 points, 10 rebounds) and Terry Anderson (10 points, 10 rebounds) recorded double-doubles for LU.

Overall, the Demons shot 47.7 percent from the field. Outside of Wilson and Bush, Chase Forte was the lone other Demon to reach double figures with 10.

The Demons wrap up the home portion of the schedule with a visit from Nicholls for Senior Day on Monday evening at Prather Coliseum.